Casing cutter



G. R. REEDER CASING CUTTER Filed April 26, 1924 March 17. 1925.

Patented Mar. 17, 1925. l

UNITED STATES GEORGE BOSS BEEDER, 0F DANBUBY, TEXAS.

CASI-NG CUTTER.

Application led April 26, 1924. Serial No. 709,222.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE Ross REEDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danbury, in the county of Brazoria and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casing Cutters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to casing cutters and has for an important object thereof the provision of a device of this character which is simple in its construction and operation and which may be readily attached to the drill pipe of a rotary drill outfit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having means for regulating the depth to which the cutters employed can be extended to thereby prevent extension of the cutters to a point where they will jam, stick and prevent withdrawal of the cutting apparatus until the casing has been removed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having means for guiding and centrally positioning the cutter casing in the well, the assemblage being so constructed that the device may be lowered into the well whether the same be partially filled with fluid or not. These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a well casing having disposed therein a cutter constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a. section on the line 2-2 of Fi re 1;

igure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fi re 1.

ferring now more particularly to the drawings, the cutter includes a central casing 10 the ends of which are provided with upper and lower heads 11 and 12 each in the form of a cylinder having one end closed by a wall having an axial bore therein, indicated at 13, and the opposite end thereof open and interiorly screw-threaded as indicated at 14. The central casing 10 has mounted therein a downwardly tapering actuating member 15 the walls of which are provided with vertical grooves 16 the -bases of which parallel the axis of the actuating member. The side walls of these grooves are provided with opposed grooves 16a which parallel the outer wall of the actuating member and which are adapted for the reception of the anges 17 formed up on the shanks of cutters 18, these iiangcs being at an angle to the longitudinal body of the cutter similar to the angle of the grooves 16*L thereto. The outer ends of these cutters project through openings 19 formed in the wall of the casing for engagement with the wall of the casing 20 which is to be severed. Carried by the wall of the central casing 10 are guide blocks 16b the mner portions of which extend into the grooves 16 and serve to prevent rotation and twisting of the downwardly tapering actuating member 15. The upper surfaces of these blocks form a rest upon which the lower surfaces of the shanks of the cutters 18 are supported, so that there is no tendency to downward movement of the part of the inner ends of these cutters when the actuating member 15 is forced downwardly.

The opposite ends of the actuating member 15 have projecting axially therefrom tubular stem portions 21 and 22, the bores of these stems aligning with a vertical bore '23 formed in the actuating 'member 15.

The upper stem projects through the opening 13 of the upper head 11 and has mounted upon its upper extremity a piston 24. Between this piston and the head a spring 25 surrounds the stem 21 and normally holds the actuating member 15 elevated suiiiciently to maintain the cutters 18 withdrawn within the casing 10 so that they will not engage the walls of the casing as the device is being lowered or raised.

The lower stem 22 projects through the opening 13 of the lower head 12 and into this lower head. The lower end of the lower head has engaged with the threads thereof a guide plug 26 which is constructed to fit y the casing with which the device is to be employed and simply serves to guide and position the casing 10. This plug is provided axially with a vertically adjustable stop member 27 against which the lower end of the stem 22 enga es when the operating member 15 is force downwardly to limit the downward movement of this operating member and determine the extent of outward movement of the cutters. The guide plug 26 is provided with one or more bores 28 to throug e In the operation of the device the drill .pipe of the rotary well drillin apparatus is engaged with the threads at t 1e upper end of the upper head 11 and the device lowered into the well. When lowered to the proper position Huid pressure is applied to the drill pipe 29 in the usual manner andthispressure, due to the unbalanced surface afforded by the piston 24, will force the actuating member 15 downwardly causing the cutters 18 to move outwardly and engage with the casing. During this time the casing `10 is rotated through the drllpipe and the cutters accordingly sever the casing at the selected point. After the severine of the casinghas-been accomplished the .fili-'id pressuref is cutofi' and soon empties itself through the device,relieving'"the pressure upon theactuating member and permitting-the same.,A

to rise under the influence ofthe spring thus. withdrawing the lcutters. When-the cutters are Withdrawn, the device maybe elevated through the casing and-the severed section of E'casing removed. Particular attention is ldirected tof-theact that -inv the operationof this device, and particularly in the withdrawal thereof,.there is no necessity.` for elevating the wei ht of water, represented by the column a ove' the actuator, as in previous devices of this character for .the reason that this water may drain olf through the cuttin mechanism. In the construction of the device the casing l10 is preferably con? lpermit the passage of water there;

structed so that it is but very slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the casing which is to be severed.

I claim 1. In a casing cutter,-a casing adapted to 'be inserted in the casin of a Well, radially l the actuator infthe` rst named direction.

2..In a casing cutter, 4 a casing adapted to be inserted in'vthe casingvof a well,'radi`ally directed blades carried by the casing, an acl 'tuator for said blades and having connection with the blades whereby movement'of the'l actuatin member'inone ldirection projects the bladgs and"in the .'oppos'ite: direction withdraws the blades, fluid pressure o erat first named direction; a connection between said fluid pressure operatin means and the actuator forming a partial 'yass for fluid pressure around the piston an a spring for' shifting the actuator in the opposite direc'- tion.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. v

GORGE Ross REEDERJ.

lng means. for shifting the actuator inthe`- Y 

